Gov. Cuomo laughs, jokes when asked about sex with subordinates
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Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who’s facing allegations that he sexually harassed a series of female aides — deflected, joked and laughed before denying Monday that he’d ever had an intimate relationship with a subordinate.
“Intimate has a number of manifestations,” Cuomo said when asked the question by The Post.
The governor then turned to Health Commissioner Howard Zucker during a news conference at Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall.
“I think we have an intimate relationship, don’t you think? Yeah, not a sexual relationship,” he said, laughing.
When pressed further on whether he’d dated any fellow state employees, Cuomo, answered, “No, no.”
The three-term Democrat has repeatedly denied that he ever “touched anyone inappropriately” in response to sexual harassment allegations from a number of women, mostly current and former aides.
Cuomo, 63, has also been accused of groping a staffer inside his official residence, Albany’s Executive Mansion, in November.
Also Monday, Cuomo tried to walk back his claim last week that “harassment is not making someone feel uncomfortable.”
“Yeah, there is a legal definition of harassment that is very clear,” Cuomo said.
“All I was saying is just, uncomfortable, does not mean sexual harassment,” he said.
“’You make me uncomfortable by some of the questions you ask me’ — that is not sexual harassment. There are other elements that also have to be aired.”
Critics last week called Cuomo “wrong about the law” and said that “he’d get laughed out of court” if he tried that defense before a judge.
“The single most powerful man in New York is trying to play devil’s advocate for himself, contradicting a bill that he himself signed into law,” said former aide-turned-accuser Lindsey Boylan, now a Democratic candidate for Manhattan borough president.
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